Latest estimates from the Government reveal there are now more private tower blocks of 18 storeys or above in need of remediation than social housing blocks.

The figure is more than double that believed at risk in May. Of the 297 high-rises expected to fail tests private owners of three quarters have failed to notify Government of plans to remediate despite warnings.

It also admitted this figure could rise further because the cladding status of another 170 private sector residential buildings is still to be confirmed.

Housing secretary James Brokenshire has unveiled fresh measures including a new expert taskforce to drive forward swifter action by building owners to remove potentially unsafe cladding on private sector high-rise residential buildings.

For the majority of these remaining buildings, enforcement notices have now been issued to get information on building construction from owners.

Based on current evidence and the identification rate to date, The Government expects 3-5% of the remaining buildings to have similar ACM cladding systems to those which have failed large-scale system tests.

It said that only 19 of the total buildings have so far had their dangerous cladding replaced, leaving tens of thousands of people living in buildings at risk.

Brokenshire said: “I have been clear that leaseholders should be protected from unfair costs and we expect the industry to do the right thing. If they don’t, I will continue to explore other routes and I am not ruling anything out.”

He added that while remediation work has begun on 21 of these private buildings buildings, of which 4 have been completed, the government was determined to accelerate the pace of this work.